Business Apr. 25, 2008 - 04:59AM JST ( 0 )

TOKYO —

Kao Corp said Wednesday the major household goods maker expects its fiscal 2008 group net profit to grow 3.7% from the previous year to 69 billion yen, the first rise in four years.

Operating profit for the year ending in March 2009 is projected at 117 billion yen, up 0.6%, on sales of 1.33 trillion yen, up 0.9%. Kao said that effects of rises in material costs will total 24 billion yen for the year. But the company said it will cover the loss by launching high-value added products and enhancing cost-cutting effort.

JCN